King Jing returned to the imperial city, and the emperor valued him more and more. Because of his political achievements in the west, and because King Jing himself was the legitimate son, although he could not speak, the ministers could not say anything against him.
The Sixth Prince, who had been the most powerful family a while ago, rarely appeared in public after being reprimanded by the emperor for taking bribes. He chose to stay out of the spotlight for the time being, which also made many court officials who had supported the Sixth Prince hesitate.
These officials were originally the party of the Third Prince. When the Sixth Prince showed his talent, he even claimed that the two princes were one. Now that the Third Prince has fallen, these people did not ask for mercy for the Third Prince, but directly supported the Sixth Prince. They were fence-sitters, so it was normal for them to be torn between the two.
The Sixth Prince had his own plans, and he could not take care of them for the time being. Prince Jing is now in the limelight. Not only does he have political achievements, but he also has the temporary support of the emperor thanks to his son. Because Liang is pregnant, the Sixth Prince has seen clearly that the emperor favors Prince Jing in his heart. If he takes the initiative to compete with Prince Jing, he will just follow the footsteps of the Third Prince and be abandoned by the emperor. However, if he pretends to be weak first, finds Prince Jing's faults, and makes Prince Jing lose the emperor's favor, I believe the emperor will naturally turn to him.
As for what King Jing did wrong, he was very sure. Concubine Zhang had recently found him some helpers, distant relatives of the Zhang family. The Sixth Prince still trusted them. He privately sent a more capable person to verify the situation, hoping to get what he wanted. The Sixth Prince was as obedient as he could be on the surface. The rising popularity of King Jing seemed to have nothing to do with him. He was just waiting for a definite news.
Then, he struck at once.
King Jing's Mansion.
Qin, the wet nurse of Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao and Sibao, has recently encountered some troubles. Her son lost a large sum of money in business and was chased by the debtor. Qin lost all her savings and still couldn't make up for it. She was worried these two days. It was inevitable that she was negligent in taking care of several treasures and made several mistakes. Although they were not particularly serious, according to King Jing's temper, she was enough to drink a pot of wine.
Qin knew her fault and knelt down to beg King Jing not to expel her from the palace. With this job, she could be supported by the palace in the future, and the whole family would not worry about the rest of their lives. But if she was driven out, she would lose everything.
Qin was also a servant of Li Yu. King Jing looked at Li Yu. Although Li Yu was now a princess, she was always dodging and never asked about the affairs of the palace. King Jing wanted to establish Li Yu's authority, but thinking about Aunt Xu, he estimated that this authority could not be established. King Jing could almost guess what Xiaoyu would do if it was Xiaoyu, so why not let Xiaoyu make a good relationship.
King Jing handed Qin to Li Yu for disposal.
Li Yu accepted the olive branch he handed over.
Originally, Princess Yu didn't want to be in charge. There were many couples who turned against each other because of power and status. Li Yu thought that he could stay away from power for a long time, but the system that pitted fish had assigned him the task of "sharing the country". He wanted to be idle, but he was afraid that it would not work.
Since he couldn't hide, he would face it bravely. Li Yu stretched out a hand in the direction of the housekeeper and tested it carefully.
Let's start with dealing with Qin.
The government rules were ready, and it was not difficult to follow the old rules, and it was not easy to go wrong. However, Li Yu remembered that Qin had a good temper and was also very meticulous. How could she make mistakes one after another? ?
Li Yu patiently asked: "What's wrong with you? Is there a reason why you always make mistakes?"
Qin's nose was sore. She was just a servant. The young masters didn't need her to nurse them. The princess only asked her to help take care of the children and play with them. In fact, she didn't have much work to do every day, and she was paid a monthly salary that only a wet nurse could have. Even so, she still made mistakes. Qin felt deeply ashamed and felt that she was ashamed of the princess. However, the princess not only didn't care, but also took the initiative to ask her the reason. Qin didn't care even if she was embarrassed. She cried and poured out everything about her son.
Li Yu asked about the specific amount, and Qin said a large sum of money. Li Yu thought for a moment and said, "This is not a difficult thing. Qin, since you are the wet nurse of Dabao and the others, you should be supported by the palace in the future. The palace can advance this money to you first, and then deduct it from your monthly salary."
Li Yu meant to lend money to Qin in the name of the palace and let Qin pay it back a little every month. Although he did not have the vision to buy antiques, at least he knew that the old man who gave him a bunch of gems to play with was actually very rich. This money was nothing to King Jing, but it was life-saving money for Qin. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.
And he did not give it for free. It was a loan, and it was interest-free. Qin would pay it back every month, and Qin would not have to be too embarrassed or feel ashamed.
In fact, King Jing gave him full authority. It was not impossible for him to ask King Jing to help Qin repay her debts directly, but he was now a princess, so he would naturally think more deeply.
Qin made the mistake first, and if he still helped to forgive her debts by giving her money, it would be too unprincipled. What would the other servants think? Could it be that they could take advantage of her by making a mistake?
Compared to who to help, how to help, the prestige of the palace is also very important.
That's why he chose to borrow. The palace would not suffer a loss, and Qin finally overcame the difficulties with her own strength, which made people see the human touch of King Jing's palace.
Qin was overjoyed by Li Yu's arrangement and wrote the loan note on the spot. Li Yu read it himself first, and then asked King Jing to read it before handing it to Wang Xi to keep.
Li Yu looked at King Jing and added, "If other people in the palace have the same difficulties, they can tell His Highness and His Highness will make arrangements."
King Jing: "..."
King Jing curled his lips unconsciously. He originally wanted to establish the authority of the princess, but the princess established his authority instead.
How could Wang Xi not know that this was for the good of King Jing? King Jing has a reputation for being strict outside. It was nothing in the past, but now King Jing is highly valued by the emperor. He is afraid that his reputation will be burdened. If he can really follow the princess's words, it will be a good thing!
Wang Xi waited expectantly for his master to respond, and King Jing glanced at him and said: Go and do it.
Wang Xi hurried to make arrangements.
After all, Qin made a mistake, and she still had to be punished according to the rules to obey the people. Li Yu had some complaints about the minimum of thirty boards in the palace. Since he was going to deal with it, Li Yu also wanted to take the opportunity to change it.
In the past, he was a pet of the fish, and at most he could act cute in front of King Jing, which was useless. Now that he is a princess, he should at least do something within his ability!
"Tianchi, let's make a slight adjustment. How about ten strokes for the first offense and thirty strokes for the second offense?" Li Yu secretly discussed with King Jing.
He originally wanted to set it at fifteen, but if he directly said fifteen strokes, King Jing might think it was too little. Li Yu used some smartness and decided to start from ten.
King Jing knew what he was thinking, so he pursed his lips and wrote on the paper, fifteen for the first offense, and expelled from the mansion for the second offense. It's
understandable that the "second offense" is higher.
Li Yu made a "yeah" in his heart and agreed with a sad face.
Qin thanked her profusely and went to get the strokes. After getting the strokes, Eunuch Wang Xi gave her silver based on the loan note, and Qin limped to pay back the money.
The debt collector saw Qin's condition and thought she must have stolen her master's money and was beaten. He sneered with disdain.
"You look so poor and you can't pay. I have a way to forgive the debt. I wonder if you are willing to do so."
Although Qin was carrying the banknotes Wang Xi had given her, she wanted to forgive the debt, so she wanted to inquire first, so she didn't reveal the money.
The other party said, "I know you are the wet nurse of Prince Jing's mansion. I want something. If you can do it, I will forgive your debt."
Qin's heart was pounding. The other party said that she heard that the young masters of Prince Jing's mansion were quadruplets, and she wanted to use some of the children's things to make amulets to protect the pregnant women and their children at home.
This dynasty does have such a custom. In fact, any bracelet or handkerchief used by a child will do. Qin Shi originally had quite a few. Just when she agreed to consider it, the other party said, "I don't want anything else, just a drop of blood from the young master."
On the one hand, she honestly returned the money to the palace, and on the other hand, she did what the man said. She had more opportunities to get close to the young master than others. It was just a drop of blood. It was not difficult to wait until the young master fell asleep.
Qin Shi hesitated a little. When her hand reached into her chest and touched the banknote given to her by the princess, Qin Shi gritted her teeth.
The princess was kind enough to help her. How could she repay kindness with enmity and hurt the young master instead!
This man didn't know what his intentions were. Qin calmed down and decided to stabilize this man first. She said she would think about it for a while, and fled back to the Jingwang Mansion like a fly, knocking on the door of Jingwang's study.
The candlelight in the study was on until late at night. After Qin left, Wang Xi went in and stayed for a long time.
The next day, Qin found the creditor and said that she was desperate and willing to help. The man's eyes showed a smile of success.
Qin wanted to do it herself, but the man said, "Take me to the mansion, and I will do it."
Qin knew that the other party did not trust her, so she could only follow the man's words and let him pretend to be her relative. She only said to the outside world that she brought her relatives to Jingwang Mansion and asked Eunuch Wang to help her find an errand.
After several interrogations, Wang Xi agreed and allowed the man to enter the mansion.
As soon as the man entered the palace, he was almost dazzled by the water flowing everywhere. Qin smiled and said, "Your Highness likes to raise fish. This is prepared for the fish master."
The man nodded indifferently. King Jing likes to raise fish and is well-known in the imperial city. The
palace of King Jing is heavily guarded. Qin and the man were checked several times. Finally, they led the man into a courtyard.
For some reason, there were two fat ducks in this courtyard. They quacked and made a lot of noise. As soon as the man stepped in, the two fat ducks flew up and pecked at him.
The man raised his hand to hit her, but Qin said hurriedly, "Don't hit her. This is the princess and the young master's pet duck, brought from the western frontier. If it is damaged, the guards outside will find it. If even a duck feather is missing, you will be punished with a stick."
The man: "..."
Fish pets and duck pets, what a messy palace this is.
The western frontier duck said vigorously, pecking the man in pain, but for the sake of the greater good, he could only endure it silently.
Qin walked slower and led the man to the inner room, where a child was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly with his face facing inward.
Qin walked in quickly and called softly, "Young Master."
The child turned around in a daze, and the man glanced at the child's appearance from a distance. It was consistent with the portrait he had obtained, and he already knew what was going on.
The child was about to wake up, so the man quickly asked Qin to continue coaxing the child.
When the child fell asleep, the man took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, covered the child's face with it, and covered it for a while.
Qin thought he was going to harm the young master, and hurried to rescue him, but the man pushed her away and took off the handkerchief when he thought the time was almost right.
The handkerchief was not covering tightly and would not take anyone's life, but it was smeared with Datura pollen, which could make people fall asleep.
Seeing that the child was really asleep, the man felt relieved and took out a silver needle and a white porcelain bottle from his other sleeve.
Qin collapsed to the ground, unable to bear to watch any longer.
After taking the blood, the man took one of the silver bracelets the child was wearing and walked away.
All of this was seen by the people waiting in the next room.
"Are you leaving?" Li Yu held Dabao in his arms and gestured to King Jing.
King Jing nodded.
Dabao sat in Yu's father's arms, not daring to breathe. He also saw what happened just now and understood the horror of what Yu's father said in an instant. Dabao
knew that he was still too young to do anything, so he simply memorized the man's face and wanted to tell the emperor later.
King Jing made sure it was safe and rang the jade bell. Soon Wang Xi led Qin into the house.
Qin stood there with her head lowered and her eyes obedient. King Jing ordered Wang Xi to tear up the loan note signed by Qin as a reward. Qin thanked him repeatedly.
The "child" lying on the bed jumped down and came to the room where King Jing was. In front of King Jing, he took out a bottle of medicine and wiped his face skillfully.
The chubby face that was originally the same as Dabao's suddenly changed into that of an adult, and even the voice was that of an adult.
This was actually a dwarf with a body shape similar to that of a child, a special guard under King Jing. King Jing summoned him to cooperate with Qin and Wang Xi to perform a play.
After the guard finished his ceremony and raised his head, Li Yu's eyes lit up, and he felt that the guard was very cunning and powerful. He pretended to be at least 50% like Dabao, but he was just lying down, and there was still some difference in his body shape that could not be seen.
It was more than enough to deceive a man who had never seen Dabao and only relied on the portrait to identify him.
"Are you disguising yourself?" Li Yu asked excitedly.
The book has been worn, the fish has changed, and the child has been born. I didn't expect to see disguises in this life.
The guard was stunned and said with a smile: "I don't know what this disguise means. It was just a makeup technique, a trivial trick."
"It's amazing if it's not a disguise. How did you do it?" Li Yu was so curious that he couldn't stop himself.
The guard wanted to explain it to Li Yu in detail, but when he glanced at the dark face of King Jing next to him, he bowed respectfully to the two masters and left decisively.
Li Yu: "..."
The princess who had been absent from her duties turned her attention back to the old attack plan.
It feels so sour to scheme against people together with King Jing!
Especially when the opponent thought he had won the victory and had taken the blood of the young master, but actually took it from the corners.
He knew who this man belonged to, and he was only worried whether the Sixth Prince would become suspicious.
"Your Highness...will he believe it?" Li Yu asked.
Yes. King Jing was quite sure.
The Sixth Prince is a meticulous person. If there were no obstacles during the process, he would definitely be suspicious. Therefore, King Jing ordered the guards to check repeatedly several times. Li Yu also released the duck army to be responsible for guarding the house, and pecked the man dozens of times.
The more "dangerous" the place is, the more "real" it will make the other party feel.
King Jing knew that the Sixth Prince had always wanted to get something on him, and now he took the initiative to hand it over.
If the Sixth Prince lies in wait, it will be difficult to deal with him, but what if he has a huge handle on him?